​Anthony Hernandez is preparing with UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland ahead of his headlining bout at UFC Fight Night 285. He aims to rebound after seeing his eight-fight winning streak halted by Strickland in February 2026. Strickland later captured UFC gold in his next matchup with Khamzat Chimaev, while Hernandez is set to face Gregory Rodrigues in Sacramento, California, this August.
Hernandez shared a photo from his training session with Strickland on Instagram, writing, “Thank you guys for welcoming me in. Appreciate the tips and tricks.” Strickland replied to the post with, “6 weeks of fun!” The two had a tense pre-fight buildup earlier this year, but their post-bout moment appeared amicable and helped pave the way for future training together.
Now ranked No. 6 in the UFC middleweight division, Hernandez will meet Rodrigues, who sits at No. 12. Strickland, meanwhile, could defend his title against Chimaev or Nassourdine Imavov, two middleweights he has already defeated.